shiny and new

One of my favourite up-and-coming illustrators/set designers, London-based Lucy Butler worked on a fantastically spooky photoshoot with Claudia Schiffer for Harper's Bazaar November issue. Art-directed by the famed Chapman Brothers with illustrations by Jon Rogers and photographed by Michelangelo Di Battista, Lucy created some amazing sets to make the shoot complete . Lucy's work is a particular favourite of mine, as she mixes her skills in set design, prop-making and illustration to make beautiful installations and window displays. Inspired by 'childhood stories, animalistic fantasies and general niceness often in its darkest form' she creates contemporary displays and art with an edge. I'm very glad to have stumbled across her blog, can't wait to see what she works on next. Happy Halloween!

       

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Rob Ryan does it again...this time for Elle Magazine and a special London Fashion Week cover. Check out his blog for more illustrated goodness.

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Recently, I realized it was time for me to march down to the shops and buy myself a new pair of jeans as my current favorites were verging on the threadbare. So, naturally I began snooping around what labels to look at, and heard about Current/Elliot. With a growing fanbase and consistent fashion mag mentions, I had to have a look. Jeans, jackets, waistcoats, shirts and tops galore for girls and guys are available. Set up by two stylists, Emily Current and Merrit Elliot, this brand does jeans with a vintage look and and fashion-forward cut. Their 'Super Slouchy Skinny Jean' has been a big hit, giving a relaxed skinny jean option, available from Net-A-Porter online. Alexa Chung is a fan of the jeans, and for any of you who want to see exactly what she is wearing in each episode of her new MTV show and where to buy it can look at MTV's 'Buzzworthy' blog where they update pictures of her outfits each day, I'm approving of her Marni shoes and APC outfits...

       

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While recently looking at Diane's lovely blog and reading about all things fashion, I saw a link to Not Just a Label and may have found a faultless fashion website. Not Just a Label operates as as online interactive showroom, with a range of impressive  avant-garde designers from all around the world selling unique, one-off designer products. These guys pride themselves on showcasing emerging graduates and designers, as well providing an outlet for talent to blossom. The site acts as a free tool for stylists, retailers and fashionistas alike to  scout the next generation of creative fashion; and I feel like a kid in a sweet shop being able to find new designers and their fantastic work. Rarely do you see such a wealth of fashion information in one place and executed so well online: designer interviews, videos, and catwalk images along with intriguing articles, job postings and a handy little creative directory. And, if that wasn't enough, on a monthly basis a new key industry figure is asked to select new submissions from designers wanting to sell through the site, resulting in a different monthly collection. The most recent is by Diane Pernet herself. Not Just a Label is at the top of my online fashion favourites, and makes me want to go back for more...

           

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The lovely people at Computer Arts recently featured some of my fashion illustration work in their magazine, in their Artist Exposure section. Displaying one of my monochrome pieces and general ramblings about why I love both drawing and fashion, it's also impressed all my techie friends who love Computer Arts even more than I do. An online version of the article is can be seen here, with work from some other illustration/graphics people too. My website is currently having an extreme makeover, so I'll be putting more illustrative work on here until the process is complete. Any commission requests or questions about my work, please leave me a comment and I'll get back to you...

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Only Karen O could work an outfit like this...I always love her kooky on-stage wear, and this just ups the stakes. Love it.

Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

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For those who ever get bored with the same old clothing ranges, magazine articles and graphic design out there, T-Post have come up with a solution. Readers subscribe as they would to a magazine, but instead of your standard printed mag, you get a lovely t-shirt with a commissioned illustration on the front and a related article printed on the inside. Every six weeks you get something different through the post and a little something to read along with it. The designs are all quirky-cool, fun, and limited stock as they never re-print back 'issues'. Even as a very picky t-shirt wearer myself, I'm tempted to sign up.

   

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Sonny is a firm favourite with myself and countless fans who love and appreciate his beautifully shot fashion photography. His blog is a great source for seeing what up-and-coming designer shows he goes to and an intimate yet down-to-earth record of a fashion photographer's life. At one of his most recent shoots for Karen Magazine, which has his trademark eppression of shape and unique composition, journalist Jacqui Turner documented the behind-the-scenes. Not only is this a fantastic account of what actually goes on at a fashion shoot, but also it's an honest and realsitic view of what happens beyond the camera lens. Sonny flourishes again, spurring on equally charming and grounded projects through his own work.

         

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I was having tea and cake with my always fantastically-dressed stylist friend David the other day, and happened to notice he was wearing the most amazing boots I have ever seen on a man. He proudly showed off his custom-made Carol Christian Poell boots, pointing out little design details to me and agreeing on their fantastic-ness. They were sleek, well designed, made out of the most exquisite leather and different from any men's boots I've seen before. After looking online, I found Poell's conceptual website, with a video of his current collection, which is made up of washed-out greys, whites, and beautiful leather pieces. What was was so enticing about my friend David's boots were the details, and on Poell's website some leather boots with a rubber band for a strap caught my eye.

Apparently these boots have already been snapped up by one of the Olsen twins, and you can see why their stylist would have picked these out. Poell has a simple and clean design asthetic with unexpected details, which makes the boots and all his collection unique. Perforated jeans, beautiful seamless jackets and even intricately designed belts are all available online at Lazzari and Darklands. The two stores sell the boots in different styles and colours, but the rubber band ones would be at the top of my wish list as a present to a very lucky gentleman.

         

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I know just about everyone has been ranting about these guys, and I took the time to find out why. Designers Joe Bates, Sid Bryan and Cozette McCrerry joined forces to create a label super-power, 'Sibling' that challenged the typical boring knitwear that is out there for men. The results are so fantastic that women are going after their creations and theiving them from the boys. I love the bright colours and textures combined with the design detail. Their newest collection is full of colour, quirky design, and looks extremely wearable. Their first collection caught a lot of attention, with peices that incorporated knitted rams-heads and sparkling twinsets. Unfortunately it's only available in japan at the moment, but you can contact the studio through the website and try your luck with ordering a peice of knitwear heaven. 

           

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